Knights getting ready to make run at sixth straight title

Tyler Boisclair earned second place at regionals as a freshman last season.

Posted
Monday, February 12, 2018 10:26 am

By Matt Metcalf

The CCRI golf program has encountered nothing but success in recent years, entering the upcoming spring season after winning five consecutive Region XXI titles.

The Knights will be looking to continue their regional dominance and go for a sixth straight crown this season, and expectations are high once again.

“We’ve won the Region XXI championship five years in a row, and we have 20 regional championships overall,” CCRI head coach Jim Stringfellow said of his golf program. “We’re the reigning champs, and we’re looking for our sixth straight title. Hopefully we can make it back to nationals as a team.”

CCRI’s roster won’t contain much experience, with just one sophomore returning in captain Tyler Boisclair. However, Boisclair is certainly expected to perform at a high level in his second season with the Knights after placing second individually in the regional tournament as a freshman.

“We have a really good player in Tyler Boisclair coming back,” Stringfellow said. “He was second last year and he’s looking to win the region championship this year.”

Boisclair, who has a strong all-around game, has set some high, attainable goals for himself as the season approaches.

“I’d like to win regionals, go to nationals, be top 18 and be an All-American,” Boisclair said.

Boisclair is looking forward to sharing advice and the knowledge that he’s gained with his inexperienced teammates to help the team be successful.

“Just take it one hole at a time,” Boisclair said of his future advice to teammates. “If you have a bad hole, you can always do good on the next one.”

The team will undoubtedly be well prepared when the season rolls around, as CCRI gets to practice day in and day out at Cranston Country Club during the spring. Cranston CC and CCRI have strong ties, and that relationship has helped recent Knight teams continue the program’s success.

“Tommy Palmer and Mike Lombardi over at Cranston Country Club are both graduates of CCRI and played golf there,” Stringfellow said of the support from Cranston Country Club. “We get to practice every day. Tommy and Mike are fantastic guys who help us with whatever we need at the course. Them letting us play there every day has been big in us winning five region titles in a row.”

The season will start in April, with the region championship tabbed for May 22-23. If the Knights are to capture a sixth straight region title, they will once again earn a trip to nationals from June 5-8 at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chatauqua, New York.

“We want to do the same thing again – win regionals and make it back to nationals,” Boisclair said of the team’s expectation. “Nationals was probably the most fun I’ve had playing sports. You meet people from all over the country, so it’s just a really great experience.”

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